What Belarusians could buy for $100 in 2010 and 2014

The National Statistics Committee has been reporting about the growth of the average wage in the recent months, but Belarusians are not becoming richer.

Though the dollar is considered to be a hard currency, $100 became cheaper in Belarus in the last three years, Intex-press writes.

For example, one can buy for 100 dollars 70 bottles of milk and 100 loaves of bread fewer today than in 2010. We can buy half as much salo (pig fat) now than three years ago for 100 dollars. But the leader of the price growth is potatoes: we can now buy 100kg less for 100 dollars. From vegetables, only onions and carrots have the same price in the dollar terms.

In 2010, one was able to buy a vacuum cleaner for 100 dollars and spend the rest on an iron, but in 2014, this sum is enough to purchase only a vacuum cleaner. Drugs are leading among the goods which price increased in dollars: we can buy 2.5 times as little antibiotics and painkillers and almost 3 times as little vitamins with $100. At the same time, the volume of fuel for $100 in 2010 and 2014 didn't chang – 111 litres.

What is more: 530 or 610?

“I promised that we would reach 500 dollars [of the average wage]. Now it is higher,” Lukashenka said in April in his address to the people of Belarus and the “parliament”.

Three years ago, in December 2010, the Belarusians achieved their “$500 dream” – the average wage was $530. Wages are really higher today. According to the National Statistics Committee, the average wage was $610 in June. But prices of goods and service were growing faster than salaries. With the current “high” wages, Belarusians can buy less than three years ago.

For example, we can buy 10kg of minced meat and 18kg of pork less than in December 2010. If measured in Champagne and cakes, the wage decreased by 10%.

Belarusians can buy 35 cans of vegetables and 40 cans of meat for kids' food fewer than in 2010. However, today's wage allows buying 45 packs of eggs and 140kg of sugar more.

What we could buy for 100 dollars (according to the data of the National Statistics Committee)